held up, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
slowly away, in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, not clear run inside final furlong, switched right, never able to challenge
close up, weakened over 2f out
tracked leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden out
towards rear, switched to outer over 3f out, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
led, pushed along 4f out, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened 2f out
tracked leader, led 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, faded inside final furlong
in touch, headway when hampered over 1f out, ridden and stayed on to go 2nd towards finish
Safira Menina beat Ride The Lightning when landing an amateurs’ race at Kempton last month while Kirtling has been in good form in lower grade handicaps and won twice at Newcastle recently. Santiburi Spring also won a Class 6 contest at Kempton but Mystikana remains 8lb higher than an earlier success over track and trip. MERCY ME has won twice over 1m2f this year but opened his account over course and distance in 2015 and John Ryan’s charge gets a speculative vote back over this longer trip.
Dakota City 18-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, ridden and some headway over 2f out, never any chance, 9th of 12, 13 1/4l behind Safira Menina (10-2) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Safira Menina 16-1 (9-5) Dwelt, towards rear, hampered over 2f out, never on terms, 6th of 9, 6l behind Petite Jack (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Goldslinger (FR) 10-1 (9-5) Tracked leader and keen, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 11th of 12, 37 1/2l behind Lexi's Boy (9-7) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp (4) sft in Jul.
Ride The Lightning 11-8fav (10-2) Tracked leaders, not much room and stumbled 5f out, 2nd over 4f out, led and bumped over 1f out, hung left inside final furlong, headed towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1 3/4l behind Safira Menina (10-2) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Mercy Me 3-1 (9-7) Held up in rear, headway on outside over 2f out, no impression, weakened from over 1f out, 7th of 8, 8l behind New Record (9-4) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Kirtling 4-1 (9-13) Slowly away, held up towards rear, headway 2f out, ridden to lead approaching 1f out, kept on, won at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Oct beating Tectonic (9-12) by nk, 13 ran.
Cornelious (IRE) 8-1 (9-4) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 12th of 14, 20l behind Solveig's Song (9-3) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Mystikana 7-2 (9-2) Mid-division, ridden and headway on outside 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never reached leaders, 4th of 14, 2 1/2l behind Ride The Lightning (9-3) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Santiburi Spring 7-1 (8-12) Towards rear, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, no impression towards finish, 5th of 13, 1 3/4l behind Heart Locket (9-5) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Nov.